Six hard-working catchment groups around New Zealand have each been awarded a $10,000 grant as part of Westpac Water Care Project. A joint initiative between NZ Landcare Trust and Westpac NZ, the grants support sustainable initiatives for biodiversity, river health and wetlands throughout the country.
The successful grant recipients are: Living Springs (Canterbury); Between Two Rivers Community Catchment Collective (Eastern North Island); Otaio/Makikihi Community Catchments Group (Otago); Makarewa Headwaters Catchment Group (Southland); Otara Waterways and Lake Trust (Upper North Island); and Taranaki Catchment Communities (Central North Island).
NZ Landcare Trust CEO, Dr Nick Edgar, says it has been great to see the progress made by different catchment groups since the Westpac Water Care Project was established in 2022.
"Catchment groups have used their grants to achieve some meaningful environmental outcomes in their regions," Dr Edgar says.
"The aims of the different projects are diverse, meaning we've seen a fantastic range of initiatives undertaken. Over the past year, grants have enabled catchment groups to do everything from expand predator control, improve biodiversity and protect rare wetland birds, to provide community access to wetlands. We're looking forward to seeing the 2025 grant recipients embark on their projects."
Westpac NZ Head of Agribusiness, Richard Anderson, says the bank and its people are committed to helping New Zealanders look after their own backyards.
"Farmers and rural communities have long been at the forefront of enhancing and protecting the natural environment. Our partnership with NZ Landcare Trust is proud to support this important grassroots work through our grants programme. Our network of Agri bankers also directly support many of our farmers to enhance their farms through our Sustainable Farm Loan, which provides benefits for the whole catchment area," Mr Anderson says.
As part of the project, Westpac employees throughout the country volunteer their time to work alongside local catchment groups and NZ Landcare Trust's coordinators. In 2024, nearly 60 Westpac team members helped with different projects.
"All of Westpac's 5,000-plus employees receive two volunteer leave days each year, and we'll once again be encouraging our staff to get their hands dirty alongside other passionate locals on these projects. I am getting the gumboots on and using my volunteer days to do some planting in the next couple of months," Mr Anderson says.
The six recipients of 2025 Westpac Water Care Project grants & their goals:
- Living Springs (Canterbury) for a power barrow to enable it to maintain and upgrade tracks to ensure access to service traplines, bait stations and transport natives for planting to protect and restore its 1130-hectare catchment.
- Between the Two Rivers Community Catchment Collective (Hawkes Bay) for installing five innovative floating wetlands in Lake Rūnanga to restore lake water quality.
- Otaio/Makikihi Community Catchments Group (South Canterbury) for new and existing riparian, stream and wetland projects, for example fencing, fish barriers, weed control and native planting, that provide the most benefit for water quality in the catchment.
- Makarewa Headwaters Catchment Group (Southland) for phase two of its revival project that will see it work with the local community to reduce feral ungulate (goats, thar, deer and chamois) numbers in a sustainable way to prevent bush damage.
- Otara Waterways and Lake Trust (Upper North Island) for its stream restoration programme, which will see 18,300 native grasses, shrubs and trees planted around 25 streams over approximately 54 hectares.
- Taranaki Community Catchment (Central) to enhance freshwater health and biodiversity and promote sustainable land management practices in the agricultural community in the central dairy farming region.
Achievements of the 2024 Westpac Water Care grant recipients:
- Installed 133 traps to support predator control efforts
- Planted more than 4,900 native trees, shrubs and grasses
- Enhanced four wetland ecosystems through restoration activities
- Connected 11 subject-matter experts with local groups for technical guidance
- Established two biomonitoring programmes to track ecological outcomes
- Engaged 432 community members in hands-on conservation work.
